The French Public had a ringside seat to the titanic battles waged in their homeland. Magazines like L'Illustration would publish photos and realistic illustrations within a few weeks of the events on the battlefields.

    Tony Langley, currently residing in Antwerp, Belgium, has contributed these images from his vast period magazine collection. These images demonstrate how 1916's desperate struggle at Verdun was presented. None of these images are explicitly propaganda pieces, but taken as a group, they show the scope of commitment, the determination and sacrifice of France and her soldiers during the battle.



Verdun Burning
Joffre and Petain Arrive

Entrance to Verdun Citadel
Exterior of Fort Vaux Before Its Capture

Counterattacking Near Fort Douaumont
Reinforcements Arriving

Wounded Poilus Receiving First Aid
German
Prisoners

July View of the Battlefield
Fort Vaux after Recapture [Interior]

Morroccan Troops
Night March

Voie Sacree
Utterly Mutilated Poilus

October View of Battlefield
Colonial Troops at Douaumont

Assembling for an Attack
Fort Douaumont Damage from 400mm Mortar

Resting in the Recaptured Fort Vaux
Triumphant Machine Gunners
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Notes on Sources: The mutilated poilus and the photo of the wounded men are from a three volume history Histoire Mondiale des Guerres by Georges Blond.. The Citadel entrance is from the personal collection of Serge Bourdin, of Paris. All the other images were published in the news weekly L'Illustration during 1916.



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Original artwork & copy; © 1998-2000, The Great War Society